Non-interfering fire-alarm box



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

J. W. STOVER. NON-INTERFEBING FIRE ALARM BOX.

No. 253,639. Patented ]E'eb. 14,1882.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. STOVER.

NON-INTERFBRING FIRE ALARM BOX. No. 253.639. Patented Feb. 14.1882.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. STOVER, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NON-INTERFERING FIRE-ALARM BO X.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,639, dated February14, 1882. Application filed June 9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OSEPH W. S'rovER, ofNewton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Fire-Alarm Signal-Box, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification.

My invention, relating to a fire-alarm signalbox, has for its obiect toproduce a non-interfering box which, if pulled in while another box isin operation, will not itself begin to operate until the completion ofthe signal being sounded by the box first started, when it will beautomatically started and will proceed to ring in its alarm.

The invention is shown embodied in a noninterfering box of that classwhich, when once started and while in operation, so affects the otherboxes that their pull or starting-lever, when operated in the usualmanner to start a box, will not cause the mechanism to start, such a boxbeing shown in Letters Patent No. 223,218, dated January 6, 1880, towhich reference may be had, and upon which the present invention isintended as an improvement. In the said invention the pull orstarting-lever was not positively connected with the stop-arm of theactuating-train of the box; but a block or connecting-piece was normallyinterposed between the said pull and stopping-arm, so that the movementof the pull by the operator would disengage the said stopping-arm fromthe train and permit the box to operate.

The position of the said block or connectingpiece was controlled by anelectro magnet which was operated by the first impulse from any box ingiving a signal to remove the said block or disconnect thestarting-lever and stopping-arm, so that a subsequent movement of thesaid starting-lever would not affect the stopping-arm, and a second boxconsequently could not be set in movement while another one previouslystarted remained in operation. As soon as the alarm was completely givenby the box first started, and it had ceased to operate, the blocks wererestored to their normal position, so that any other box could now bestarted. By this arrangement an operator desiring to starta box whileanother one is already in operation is obliged to wait until the saidoperating'box has completed its signal, and

then pull in the box from which he desires a signal to be given. In mypresent invention the said block or connecting device between the pulland starting-lever and the stop-arm of the train is dispensed with, sothat the said pull will always operate the said stop-arm whether.another box is giving a signal or not, and the armature of thecontrolling-magnet is provided with a stop which, when the said magnetis inits normal condition,has no efiect upon the action of the box, sothat the operation of the starting-lever will at once set the box inmovement; but when the condition of the magnet has been changed,as it iswhile an alarm is being sounded, the stop connected with the armature isplaced in a position to itself stop and hold the actuating-train of itsbox, so that if the regular stopping-arm of the said box-hereinafterdenominated the main stop-is disengaged by the starting-lever the boxwill not begin to operate until the magnet is restored to its normalcondition by the completion of the signal which is being sounded fromanother box, and with which it is not desired to interfere. The saidstop operated by the magnet, which may be called the second; ary ornon-interfering stop, takes eit'ect upon a different portion of thetrain from the main stop, and permits a sufficient movement of the pointengaged by the said main stop to prevent the latter from re-engaging ifdisengaged by the operation of the starting lever, the train thenremaining held by the secondary or non-interfering stop, and it isconsequently permitted to start when the said secondary stop isdisengaged by the change of condition of the magnet following thetermination of a signal.

The armature in the box that is operating to sound a signal ismechanically held in its normal position, so that it will not be movedlike those of the other boxes upon the change of condition of its magnetto stop the box and prevent the signal from being completed. This isaccomplished in the present instance by a flange upon the stop-wheelofthe train engaging and holding a finger connected with the armatureupon the first movement of the said wheel, before the box has sent thefirst impulse by which the condition of the cont-rolling magnet ischanged. The said flange is provided with an opening at the point whichis opposite the said holding-finger while the said wheel is in itsnormal position of rest and engaged by the main stopping-arm.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire-alarm signal-box containing myinvention, the parts being in their normal condition as when no signalis being given, portions being broken away to show the mechanism behindFig. 2, a detail showing the parts in the position as sumed when thepull or starting-lever isoperated while a signal is being sounded fromanother box; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the working parts of the box;Fig. 4., a detail illustrating the mechanical holding device for thesecondary stop, and Fig. 5 a modification to be referred to.

The actuating-spring a engages in the usual manner the gear I) on thewinding-shaft b, the said gear meshing with a pinion on a shaft carryingthe stop-wheel c, which in turn drives the brakewheel d, the trainending in the escape-wheel], governed by pallets g, and fanor pendulumvibrated thereby in the usual manner, and mounted on a rock-shaft, h,these parts being essentially as in the patent hereinbefore referred to,and forming no part of the present invention. The stop-wheel cis soproportioned to the pinion driven by it' and carrying the brake-wheel dthat in a single revolution of the said stop-wheel the brake-wheel makesa number of complete revolutions equal to the number of times that it isdesired to have the signal repeatedin this instance, four; and the saidstop-wheel is provided with a stop-point, 1", (shown as a pin,) whichengagesanotchfl, in the main stop-arm j, pivoted at 3, and pressedtoward the said pin 5 by a spring, 7c, its downward movement beinglimited by the pin 4 engaging the frame-w-ork. The stop-arm j isdisgengaged from the stop-wheel c to permit the train to start and causethe brake-wheel to give the signal by the starting-lever or pull 1,(shown only in Fig. 3,) it being pivoted at 5, so that when depressed bythe operator, as shown in dotted lines, its end 6 engages the end 7ofthe stop-arm j, raising itfrom engagement with the pin 2. nection withthe pin 1', is denominated the handoperat'ed stopping device, since itis actuated by the hand of the operator applied to the pull 1.

An eleetro-magnet, L, placed in the circuit over which the signals aresent, is provided with an armature, m, pivoted at 8, and provided with aretracting-spring, n, so adjusted that the armature is normally held upto the poles of its magnet by the electric current, which normally flowsthrough the circuit while no signals are being given. While the signalsare being given a weaker current is thrown upon a line by the action ofa circuit-changer, which may be operated by a repeater, as mentionedinthe patent hereinbefore referred to the said current not being strongenough to hold the armature up to the poles of the mag- The notchedstop-arm j, taken in con-.

net, so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2.

The armature m is provided with a rod, 0, forming the secondary ornon-interfering stop, it being extended down in position to engage afinger, p,- on the rock-shaft h when the armature is back from the polesof its magnet, to thus prevent the vibration of the pallets g and lockthe train of wheel-work, so that if the starting-lever j is depressed bythe operator while an alarm is being sounded from another box, and thearmature consequently not attracted, the box will not start and causeits signals to interfere with the onebeing sounded from the box alreadyin operation. The stopwheel 0 will, however, if the stop-armjis thusraised, turn slightly, owing to the lost motion of the parts between thesaid stop-wheel and the finger 1), this movement being sufficient toprevent the arm from again falling into engagement with the pin a", itremaining as shown in Fig. 2, and consequently as soon as the finger pis released by the stop 0 upon the restoration of the mag-net Z to itsnormal condition after the alarm that is being sounded from the otherbox has been completed the train will start to give the new signalwithout any further movement of the starting-lever 7c. When the armaturem is attracted the stop 0 is in position to leave the pallets and fanfree to vibrate to permit the train to move, and the stop-wheel c isprovided with aholding device, (shown as a flange, 'r,) to engage a hookorprojection, 8', (see Fig. 4,) upon the stop 0 just after the saidwheel begins to move and before the condition ofthemagnetlhas beenchanged, so as to prevent the said stop from falling back into the pathof the finger p in the box that is giving the alarm when the conditionof the magnet is thus changed.

The flange r is provided with an opening, 9, which is opposite the book8 when the wheel a is engaged by the stop-arm j, thus leaving the stopofree to operate.

The tooth t of the brake-wheel d, that lies in contact with thecircuit-springs u when the train is stopped in its normal condition, ismade slightly broader at its top than the other teeth, so that the saidcircuit-springs will not be disengaged in the slight movement that takesplace when the startin g-lever is operated with the stop 0 in positionto engage the finger It is obvious that the armature a may be polarizedand the non-interferin g stop 0 controlled by the reversal or changeofpolarity of the current, as described in the patent hereinbeforereferred to, and shown in Fig. 5, instead of the change of strength ofthe said current, as herein described; or any other change in conditionof the magnet causing a movement of the armature may be availed of toinsure noninterference without departing from the principle of thisinvention.

I claim I w 1. The actuating-train and its hand-operated main stoppingdevice, combined with the secondary or non-interferin g stop for thesaid train and controlling electro-magnet therefor, ar-

ranged and to operate substantially as and for 5 the purpose described.

2. The actuating-train and hand-operated main stopping device therefor,combined with the secondary stop,properly located to engage a differentportion of the said train from the to said main stopping device, and thecontrolling electro-magnetfor the said secondary stop, sub stantially asand for the purpose described.

3. The actuating-train and its hand-operated main stopping device, andthe secondary stop- 15 pin gdevice therefor and its controllingelectromagnet, combined with the holding device for the said secondarystopping device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The actuating-train, including the stop- 20 wheel and escapement, andthe stop-engaging arm connected with the latter, combined with the mainstop-arm and starting-lever therefor,

andthe electro-magnet, its armature, and stoprod connected therewith,substantially as and for the purpose described. 2 5

5. In a non-interfering signal-box, the actuating-train,combined withthe electro-inagnet, its armature, and the non-interfering stoppingdevice for the said train operated by the said armature, substantiallyas and for the purpose 0 described.

6. The actuating-train and electro-magnet and its armature, providedwith a stopping device for the said train, and the hooked fingerconnected with the said stopping device, com- 5 bined with thetrain-wheel and its notched holding-flange, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof [have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOS. W. STOVER.

Witnesses:

W. H. SIGs'rON, J 0s. P. LIVERMORE.

